You closed on your home, moved in, and then discovered the problem the seller never mentioned: a leaking foundation, a roof patched to hide rot, mold behind fresh paint, a basement that floods every spring. Now you are staring at a repair bill for something you would have negotiated over, or walked away from, if you had known.
In Maryland, sellers are not always allowed to stay silent. When a seller hides or lies about a defect they knew about, you may have a claim, and you do not have to absorb the cost alone.
What Maryland law requires a seller to tell you
Under Maryland’s Residential Property Disclosure and Disclaimer law (Real Property § 10-702), most sellers of residential property must give buyers either a disclosure statement describing the condition of the property or a disclaimer selling the home “as is.” Even a seller who disclaims still cannot actively conceal a known latent defect or make false statements about the property.
The line that matters is knowledge. A seller who genuinely did not know about a hidden problem is treated very differently from one who papered over it. Cases turn on what the seller knew, when they knew it, and what they did to hide it.
When you may have a claim
- The seller checked “no known problems” on the disclosure form for something they had clearly dealt with before.
- A defect was physically concealed, painted over, patched, or hidden behind stored belongings during showings.
- The seller, agent, or a contractor made statements you now know were false.
- Repair invoices, permits, prior insurance claims, or neighbors show the seller knew.
How Blackridge Advisors helps
I handle real estate fraud and nondisclosure disputes for Maryland buyers. That means investigating what the seller actually knew, gathering the disclosure statement, inspection reports, and repair history, and pursuing recovery through negotiation, a demand, or litigation when the facts support it. The goal is straightforward: get you compensated for a defect you were never told about, as efficiently as the situation allows.
Talk to a Maryland attorney about your undisclosed defect claim
If this sounds like your situation, the sooner you get advice, the more options you tend to have. Call Blackridge Advisors at 443-295-3202 or email ddouglas@blackridgeadvisors.com to talk through the facts and what a realistic path forward looks like.
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Blackridge Advisors LLC | 7939 Honeygo Blvd, Ste 116, Nottingham, MD 21236 | 443-295-3202 | ddouglas@blackridgeadvisors.com
This page is attorney advertising provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Reading this page or contacting Blackridge Advisors LLC does not create an attorney-client relationship.